House Health & Human Development Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 28, 2026·52m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House Health & Human Development Committee advanced three bills to the full body, including the contentious HB 252, which would reduce public cannabis consumption from a misdemeanor to a civil violation — drawing sharp debate over racial equity, public safety, and the adequacy of a $50 fine as a deterrent.

Key Actions

·HB 252 – Public Cannabis Consumption Penalty ReductionNo Vote

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Controversies

Whether reducing the public cannabis consumption penalty normalizes drug use in public spaces

Representative Holoski argued the bill 'allows use in areas that are accessible to the public. That means parks, sidewalks, shopping areas where children and families are present,' and that reducing penalties normalizes public drug consumption and exposes non-users. Representative Morrison countered: 'you had said this is making it permissible in public places. It is not. It absolutely is not. What it's doing is saying instead of smacking you with up to a $200 fine and a criminal record and five days in jail, we're going to make the penalty commensurate with the offense.'

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Notable Quotes

“Although according to the 2024 census, only about 24.2% of Delawareans are Black. From 20 to 24, the most recent years for which data is available, 62.6% of charges for public consumption of cannabis were for black Delawareans. And in fact, in each of those years, that's gotten worse. In 2020, it was 60.31%. In 2021, it was 61.7%. In 2022, it was 62.5%. In 2023, it was 63.27%. And in 2024, it jumped to 67.9%.”
Representative Morrison — Morrison presented this racial disparity data as the central justification for HB 252, arguing that the current misdemeanor penalty for public cannabis consumption is enforced disproportionately against Black Delawareans.

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Votes

Motion to release HB 252 (by Representative Johnson, seconded by Representative Burns)No Vote

Yes (5)Representative Chukwuocha, Representative Neal, Representative Burns, Representative Morrison, Representative Ross Levin

No (1)Representative Jones Giltner

Absent (7)Representative Harris, Representative Johnson, Representative K. Smith, Representative Snyder Hall, Representative Hensley, Representative Holoski, Representative Postles

Motion to release HCR 82 (by Representative Johnson, seconded by Representative Burns)No Vote

Yes (5)Representative Chukwuocha, Representative Neal, Representative Burns, Representative Ross Levin, Representative Jones Giltner

Absent (10)Representative Harris, Representative Heffernan, Representative Johnson, Representative Morrison, Representative K. Smith, Representative Snyder Hall, Representative Hensley, Representative Holoski, Representative Postles, Representative Short

Motion to release SB 191 (by Representative Johnson, seconded by Representative Morrison)No Vote

Yes (4)Representative Chukwuocha, Representative Neal, Representative Bureau [UNCLEAR rendering — likely Burns, Representative Jones Giltner

Absent (11)Representative Harris, Representative Heffernan, Representative Johnson, Representative Morrison, Representative Ross Levin, Representative K. Smith, Representative Snyder Hall, Representative Hensley, Representative Holoski, Representative Postles, Representative Short

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TranscriptPreview

Good morning, everyone. We're going to get started. Members, please be advised that microphones on the desk will easily pick up conversations. These microphones are connected to the live stream so that the public may watch the proceedings. I will now call the meeting to order. The public can participate virtually by registering through the meeting link on the General Assembly's website. Instructions for providing public comment are available on the website under this committee's meeting notice and will also be shared during the public comment portion of the hearing. Written comments may be submitted to House Committee commentelaware.gov Any comments received within 24 hours after the hearing will will be included in the public record. Members of the public physically present for the meeting may sign up on the Speaker's list for the bill which they wish to speak upon. Please note that any votes that shall be taken shall be done so in a roll call manner. We will also be offering the bills for signatures to the members absent for committee members absent. If it receives enough signatures for release from committee, it will be reported out on the legislative website and announced on the floor during…

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